Hex turned to Perus, nervously rubbing his hands together. "Where exactly is this shortcut?"
Dahlia flashed a faint smile, a hint of mischief in her eyes. "It's not so much a place, more of a method. Normally, it would take most of the day to reach the ruins, but with this... it'll only take fifteen minutes."
Perus raised both his arms, and the air around the carriage swirled into a powerful vortex. Hex's coat flapped against his body, and he had to squint against the wind. He turned back to Perus, eyes wide. "Why didn't you tell me you could do ma—"
Before he could finish, the carriage jolted forward with explosive speed, the ice road forming beneath them in a silvery shimmer. Hex's breath hitched as the chill of the ice stung his face, the wind howling as they accelerated. Ooka and Hex clung to the sides, screaming, their faces a mixture of terror and astonishment. Meanwhile, Perus and Dahlia grinned, their expressions youthful and carefree as they zipped along.
The icy road vanished behind them as quickly as it formed ahead, smooth and glistening in the sunlight. Trees blurred past in streaks of green and white, and when they hit a boulder or rise in the ground, the carriage would launch into the air, their stomachs leaping. Hex braced himself every time, teeth gritted, as though his heart might leap out of his chest. Just as they were about to smash into the ground, an ice ramp would appear, saving them at the last second, making each descent feel like a new thrill.
As they shot through the forest, snow and frost scattered like clouds of dust behind them. The cold seeped through Hex's gloves, his fingers numb as he held on for dear life. Part of him wanted to yell at Dahlia to stop, but another part—a small, grudging part—was exhilarated.
After a few more breathless moments, they burst from the cover of trees and into a clearing, skidding to a halt in front of the ruins with a deafening crash. Soldiers stationed nearby flinched, spinning around to locate the source of the noise. Dahlia hopped out of the carriage, dusting off her coat with a satisfied grin. "We're right on time!"
The horses, wide-eyed and trembling, collapsed onto the snowy ground, sides heaving as they tried to recover.
Dahlia crouched, raising an eyebrow. "What's wrong? You didn't even pull the carriage—you shouldn't be tired." Her voice held a teasing lilt, though a hint of genuine concern flickered in her eyes.
The horses weren't the only ones looking worse for wear. Hex stumbled out of the carriage, disoriented, his hair standing on end and face pale. He staggered a little before gripping the side of the carriage for balance.
"That... that... that was amazing!" he gasped, his voice still shaky. "But tell me first next time, alright? Still... amazing!"
Ooka climbed out after him, casting a wary glance at the ice road fading behind them. He shook his head, muttering, "I'm too old for this kind of thing."
As Perus and Hex finally steadied themselves, they noticed a crowd of soldiers gathering around, their expressions a mix of surprise and suspicion. Perus lowered his voice. "It seems we've drawn their attention."
Hex let out a low chuckle, though he still felt a lingering tightness in his chest. "Well, it was quite an entrance..." His brow furrowed as he looked back at Perus, realization dawning. "Wait. You can do magic? Why didn't you tell me?"
Perus chuckled softly, as though this were the most ordinary thing in the world. "It never seemed necessary."
Hex rolled his eyes, muttering under his breath. "Arrogant prick."
A sharp voice pierced the air, silencing any further conversation. "What are you doing back here?"
Three figures emerged from the crowd—two men flanking a woman in the center. She had dark skin, brown hair, and sharp green eyes, her face twisted in fury. The Jade Circles uniform hugged her small frame, and she marched up to Dahlia with a purposeful stride, her gaze icy.
"Have you come back to kill the rest of us, you brat?" she snapped, voice cold and accusatory.
Dahlia looked down at the woman with a dismissive face, then turned her attention to Perus, not bothering to address her. "Who is this midget?" she asked, her tone dripping with contempt.
The woman barely reached 4'11", while Dahlia, though not particularly tall at 5'7", towered over her.
The woman's eyes blazed, a green glow flickering around her pupils as veins of emerald light began to pulse across her arms. Her fists clenched, and she took a step forward, her voice trembling with rage. "What did you call me? I think I'm going to have to teach this royal brat a lesson."
She raised a fist, the green glow intensifying. But just as she moved, the man beside her reached out, placing a firm hand on her arm. His face was calm, though his voice carried a hard edge. "There's no need for unnecessary violence, Kate."
Kate glared at him, still seething, but she didn't pull away. "Why? We all know this woman is responsible for the deaths of our comrades! She set that monster loose, and you're telling me to stand down?"
The man didn't flinch, keeping his grip steady. "We don't know that for certain. I'm sure Miss Dahlia would be more than willing to tell us what happened," he said, turning to Dahlia with a measured gaze.
Dahlia's eyes narrowed, her lips curling into a slight sneer. She looked away, her voice dripping with disdain. "I owe you no explanation."
Behind her, Hex muttered just loud enough to be heard, "No people skills whatsoever."
Kate overheard, and her sharp gaze snapped to Hex, catching sight of his Ashault Guard uniform. Her eyes narrowed as she studied him, suspicion flickering in her gaze. Hex's stomach tightened. Does she recognize me? If she does, I'm done for.
Kate's sneer returned, her attention shifting back to Dahlia. "We don't need her explanation, Conner. She and that assistant of hers were the only ones in the ruins during the incident, and somehow they walked away unharmed while everyone else didn't stand a chance." Her eyes glinted with disdain as she stepped closer, practically spitting her words. "Now her father sends a royal guard to protect his little princess."
She spat on the ground near Dahlia's feet, her contempt sharp and palpable.
Hex let out a quiet, shaky breath, feeling some of the tension ease from his shoulders. At least she doesn't recognize me, he thought, though the unease lingered. Despite the close call, the hostility in the air felt like a powder keg waiting to go off. Was it really a good idea to come here?